Young people, please: Go to the doctor before your body falls apart

So you're a millennial and still feel pretty invincible, right? Good, so now is the time to find a doctor before things start getting ugly. Think of your body like a car, it's an investment that requires routine check ups, maintenance and care. Without that, it's going to break down and cost a lot more in the long run.

To find out what you should know about your health, we talked to two family physicians at Renown Health: Dr.  Stephanie Stutz D.O. and Sarah Teixeira, advanced practitioner of nursing. So what do you need to know?

Go to the doctor right now

Stutz and Teixeira emphasized finding a primary care doctor and getting checked up before you get sick. Getting set up with family histories and standard check up schedules will do more to help address diet and wellness than waiting until things go south. "It's a lot better to come in early than when there's a whole laundry list of things they need to start whittling away at," Stutz said. "I try to dangle the carrot that you want to stay active now so you can still be active and stay independent when you're 80." Best of all, most major insurances make wellness visits free.

Check your blood pressure

Men and women both should get their blood pressure checked once every two years if there's no personal or family history of high blood pressure. Teixeira said pharmacy machines can help you track numbers between doctor visits. Generally, a high number below 120 and a low number below 80 is good but ask your doctor what the norm is for you. If the numbers are consistently closer or higher to 140 over 90, Teixeira said that could indicate something going wrong. High blood pressure can indicate other issues like diabetes, bad diet, low exercise and may require lifestyle changes, so keep an eye on it.

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Check cholesterol and BMI

Men should have their cholesterol checked in their 30s while women can usually wait until they turn 40. Men are at higher risk for high cholesterol because estrogen helps suppress cholesterol, Dr. Stutz said. However, family histories and genetically high cholesterol can throw this off for anyone, so getting it checked early can help prevent many healthy issues down the road. Once women turn 40, estrogen levels start to go down, especially after menopause and cholesterol tests needs to be added then. Body Mass Index above 25, for men, can also indicate potential for diabetes and risk for heart disease,so try to keep that low. If yours is already high, go to the doctor.

Establish a healthy diet

Stutz and Teixeira both emphasized that most issues can be curbed or prevented with a healthy diet. That doesn't mean getting crazy with Paleo, Vegan, South Beach, raw or any other fad diets but simply adding fruits and vegetables to every meal. In general, American food culture emphasizes meat-centered dishes with starches and grains on the side. While whole grains are important, Teixeira said, fruits and vegetables in higher percentages are better.

Both also try to convince patients to quit smoking, if they do, because of the myriad of complications smoking can cause later in life. But don't worry about all of your vices. Drinking alcohol in moderation is totally fine and some doctors even encourage it. A "glass a day keeps the doctor away" you might say.

Exercise

Dr. Stutz said she would rather see her patients walk for 15 minutes every day than go to the gym for two hours once a week. The consistent movement will keep people active longer. Teixeira added that using convertible office furniture allows people to stand and sit at work as opposed to only sitting or only standing. Desk exercises and looking away from a computer screen will also keep people active when done consistently. In fact, you should stand up, stretch and look away from this story right now.

Women wellness

Stutz said women should begin their Pap smear testing at age 30 if they haven't already started earlier. Most women can get away with testing once every three years if no abnormalities are found and no family history dictates a need for more frequent tests. At age 40, mammograms get added to the mix, again provided family history or prior problems don't dictate a need for more.

Stress

Many medical problems, such as increased infection are exacerbated by stress, which Dr. Stutz and Yeixeira said often comes from lifestyle changes. Those lifestyle changes, such as caring for elderly parents, can lead to poor eating habits, inconsistent sleep and ultimately increase weight gain and chance of contracting diabetes and becoming depressed. Both Stutz and Yeixeira like to address those individual lifestyle problems to see if people can manage the stress. Putting a priority on exercise, hiring help, trying new routines and diet and seeing a therapist can do a lot to bring people back into a healthier place as they age.

In sum

Generally, both Stutz and Yeixeira agreed people between the ages of 30 to 45 are the years where it's more important to learn healthy habits, establish a doctor and check in from time to time. Barring any family histories, genetics or incredibly bad habits, diet and exercise will keep most people in good shape into their golden years. Maintaining regular dental health with a dentist, visiting an eye doctor and having skin checked by a dermatologist will also make sure no other issues can creep up.